Any Sunshine 16 Sit down model owners out there?
 

I've been contemplating my next machine purchase... I could go with a Juki 2010 for about $900 or maybe a longer throated commercial machine although that would have to stay put in the craft room lol. Not like I can take that to quilting days with my guild...
Or I could possibly go with something like the Sunshine 16 sit down....

I really don't want a frame set up in my craft room. I had one and it was a giant paper weight. It sucks up too much space for the amount of time I'd actually use it. I don't intend to ever quilt for profit so it's just me and my own hobby...

I have considered a HQ Sweet 16 but I don't see what my extra $4k investment would get me over the Sunshine 16. Same goes for the Fun Quilter and the George - they're all A LOT more money than the Sunshine.
I don't want a Bailey. I had one on a frame. I really do want a taller machine if I'm going to go with something other than the Juki... so that leaves me with Sunshine which I have to admit I have not test sewed it yet and I would before I commit. They're about a 4 hour drive so it's a doable trip...

I read that there are a few people that have purchased them. I'd be curious to know how long you've had it and what you think so far... :)

Does it have stitch regulation and all the bells and whistles of the George and Fun Quilter? If not, there's where the extra costs are.

Neither the Fun Quilter nor George are stitch regulated. You can get a regulator of some sort for the FQ. It's an additional fee and is only for frame models. The HQ has a stitch regulator for about $1k but it has not gotten the best of reviews from what I've read.
The George has a massive throat. It's 20" which is overkill for me. I only brought it up since I was certain it would be suggested. ;)
I actually have not seen if you could actually use a FunQuilter on a table instead of a frame now that I think of it...

i have the juki and love it it has a decent amount of space and also has the added benifit of being a great peicing machine i use it all the time for peicing and sometimes for quilting when my longarm is down like it is now.

I was able to test sew on the Sunshine 16 last year at Quilt Expo- I loved it! Wish I had one. I am going to Quilt Expo on Friday, and I hope to try it again.

Why didn't you like your Bailey? There was a post the other day about the bailey's, everyone seemed to like them. Someone said they had a sit down model. I do not have a long arm (if that is what these are called) but I like to read these posts and gain knowledge. I would like to have a sit down model someday.

Just for fun - Nolting does have a sit down machine called the Quilting Bee instead of the FunQuilter. Not cheap.

"Over 15" deep and 8" inside height provide plenty of room to sew large quilts and sew the large designs."

$4,600 for the package - here's the link http://nolting.com/qbee.php

Sewplease - thanks! I had totally missed it. I knew they had one but I also knew it was about the same price as the HQ S16 :)

BarbaraA - I didn't dislike the Bailey at all. Bailies are good workhorse machines. If I'm going to spend about the same amount of money, I'd just rather get the Sunshine 16 instead for table use only because I like the height of the machine. I figure if I'm going to spend half that, I'd get the Juki. I am on the lookout for a Singer 301 type of machine which I could probably pick up for about $100 - just to get until I decide what I really want :)

I was just hoping to hear from some Sunshine 16 owners. I'll look them up and pm them :)

There is a yahoo group for Sunshine owners and I joined it for a bit to find out more about it. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pennywinklequilters/
From what I see on there, everyone loves their set up! And the owner of pennywinkle is active on the group and seems to be very friendly and helpful. I hope you will post what you find out. I was very very interested in this machine too (until I remembered I need straight stitches!!) and couldn't find much information about them, other than other people like us, trying to find out more about them!! :) You can also email Nancy directly. When I did, she replied within a few hours. http://sunshine16.com/Contact.html

I tested the sunshine 16 in GR at the quilt show, I really want the sitdown model too. I have a juki on a Grace quilting frame. I am lousie on quilting on a regular machine without a frame, so don't know if the HQ would be good for me or not. I can't remember what the cost was at the show cuz I tried all the models but free shipping if ordered within 30 days of show. I would have to get rid of my grace frame. the 16 was $1700 alone to fit on my frame. The only problem is you would have to use a footpedal and I can't find a way to get around that. now I have a HQ handihandles that I have a off/on and speed control.... questions/questions LOL

According to the website, a machine with handle bar comes with:
Variable speed control located on the front of the control box
On/off button on the handle bar
Handle bars can be used on front or back of machine by simply loosening the mounting bracket and rotating over

I was really impressed with the woman when I spoke with her on the phone a few weeks ago. She was really nice and invited me to come look at them and see how they're made, etc. I might take my husband with me to go check it out. Part of me wants to get it with the frame and just set up the frame when I need to quilt large things and get the table top for the extra $100 for the rest of the time when I'm doing smaller things. She said that I could use the handle bar machine on a table but the handles would just have to stay on the machine while it's on the table which is a small sacrifice for flexibility.

I had not heard of this machine, so Googled for reviews and information. It seems to me that there are comments about tension problems, which is about the last thing I want to deal with when I am FMQing, so that puts me off a bit. It is an extremely small company too, and the warranty is more limited than on most sewing machines. Although the price is wonderful, I guess my inclination would be to stick with the tried-and-true even though they are more expensive.

I've emailed a few people that own it and I'm going to join that yahoogroup and see what other users say about it.
I did find a person here who had it but sent it back due to tension issues.

I'm also going to be going to the Birmingham quilt show next weekend. I'm hoping to try out some sit downs there but I suspect that it will be all framed models. At the show here in Huntsville I only saw framed machines at the show. I'm hopeful though that I'll get to check one out. I still might cruise out to Tennessee and check out the 16 in person. I think I'll bring the thread that I normally would use for my quilting with me to see how the machine likes it. I really don't want to buy a finicky machine. I've heard of some machines not liking most threads.

I have a Sunshine 16 and had tried it at a quilt show then saved to buy one. It was the worst investment I have ever made. It shake the tension and you start off great and then you get many eyelashes in your work and have to pull it out. I called for help and was told I was not a good Free Motion sewer and there is nothing wrong with the machine. Mine now wastes room in my studio and collecting dust. It is not worth the cost and I will never buy cheap again.

I recently saw one of these for sale. Never heard of them. Wow!